[URL]http://news.yahoo.com/thoughts-god-us-slackers-study-suggests-160609895.html[/URL][QUOTE]No matter if you're a believer, thinking about God and religion may turn you into a slacker, according to a new study.
"More than 90 percent of people in the world agree that God or a similar spiritual power exists or may exist,"study researcher Kristin Laurin of the University of Waterloo in Canada, said in a statement. "This is the first empirical evidence that simple reminders of God can diminish some types of self-regulation, such as pursuing one's goals, yet can improve others, such as resisting temptation."
Even for those without a [URL="http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=Ajkh8evQpGTYQYKNXBgzMpEbANEA;_ylu=X3oDMTFqMDgxZXM0BG1pdANBcnRpY2xlIEJvZHkEcG9zAzEEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0aWNsZUJvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylv=0/SIG=12vb4uanq/EXP=1321273054/**http%3A//www.livescience.com/6196-god-helps-personal-decisions-americans.html"]personal belief in God[/URL], U.S. culture is saturated with religious references and imagery that could impact them, Laurin said. The study's results were independent of the participants' religious beliefs. Even without knowing it, these signs and signals can have a psychological effect.
A Gallup poll in May found that more than nine out of 10[URL="http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=AnJW755SDpurNGzv5vZczCQbANEA;_ylu=X3oDMTFqaWd2Ymg3BG1pdANBcnRpY2xlIEJvZHkEcG9zAzIEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0aWNsZUJvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylv=0/SIG=12eatdqef/EXP=1321273054/**http%3A//www.livescience.com/16151-god-belief-intuition.html"]Americans believe in God[/URL]. These numbers drop for groups of younger Americans, liberals, those living in the Eastern United States, those with postgraduate educations and political independents. However, belief in God is nearly universal among Republicans and conservatives and, to a slightly lesser degree, in the South.
In the new study, the researchers primed more than 350 engineering students with the idea of God or faith, for example, by having participants write a sentence using a list of words with spiritual connotations. Students then completed skill tests in which they had to make as many words as possible from a group of letters. When prompted with religious imagery or language beforehand, the students came up with fewer words, regardless of their religious background, than those who hadn't been primed with such imagery.
The researchers think the lack of effort in the "religious-primed" group could be dictated by a belief that [URL="http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=AhKYeOttRpzby0bRB18xl3kbANEA;_ylu=X3oDMTFqaTNjbzlmBG1pdANBcnRpY2xlIEJvZHkEcG9zAzMEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0aWNsZUJvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylv=0/SIG=12phggumo/EXP=1321273054/**http%3A//www.livescience.com/13422-americans-natural-disasters-god.html"]fate is in God's hands[/URL]. If the students believe that God controls their destiny, trying to be better isn't going to help them actually be better, resulting in less effort. This entire thought process seems to be unconscious, but just the presence of these God-conjuring words or images could alter behavior.
A second study tempted participants with cookies after they had read one of two passages — one about God and the other on a non-religious topic. Participants who read the God passage not only reported a greater willingness to resist temptation, but also were less likely to help themselves to the cookies.
This effect, however, was found only among participants who had previously said they believe an omniscient entity watches over them and [URL="http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=AgcdYjW0nToFhN49QNZC7hkbANEA;_ylu=X3oDMTFqc2Fobm1zBG1pdANBcnRpY2xlIEJvZHkEcG9zAzQEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0aWNsZUJvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylv=0/SIG=12o42njie/EXP=1321273054/**http%3A//www.livescience.com/10391-god-rage-anger-almighty-common.html"]notices when they misbehave[/URL], though the strength of their devotion to that God didn't come into play in any of the experiments, the researchers found.
The researchers say like the "Santa Claus" effect, people "behave" because God knows when they've been bad or good. Being reminded of the presence of an all-knowing God helps people resist temptations, for fear they will be "caught" by God and punished, the researchers speculate.
The study was published online Oct. 24 in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.[/QUOTE]
[Quote]"More than 90 percent of people in the world agree that God or a similar spiritual power exists or may exist,"study researcher Kristin Laurin of the University of Waterloo in Canada, said in a statement.[/Quote]
Maybe in backwater rural areas/third world countries, but not in the modern world.
[QUOTE=Miskav;33054011]Maybe in backwater rural areas/third world countries, but not in the modern world.[/QUOTE]You have to remember that 10% of the population is still about 700 million people. That's two entire United States. That is a lot of people. That seems about fitting.
[QUOTE=Doctor Zedacon;33054043]You have to remember that 10% of the population is still about 700 million people. That's two entire United States. That is a lot of people. That seems about fitting.[/QUOTE]
Fair enough, I suppose it's just odd for me to include the other 90% because those people aren't able to make a decent decision on the matter and believe out of fear or ignorance, not through a weighed decision.
If we go socialist, I don't have to work, everyone else can pay for my healthcare and welfare.
[QUOTE=Zillamaster55;33054110]If we go socialist, I don't have to work, everyone else can pay for my healthcare and welfare.[/QUOTE]
What?
[QUOTE=Zillamaster55;33054110]If we go socialist, I don't have to work, everyone else can pay for my healthcare and welfare.[/QUOTE]What the fuck did that have to do with anything?
Better yet, why would you make a statement so blatantly ignorant?
This does not surpise me.
Funny how people fail to see the simple truth when it comes down to God. It is a product of the creative human mind. No evidence, no controversy in that. It's the truth.
Religiousness isn't only about God though... God would only wish for you to do what's right by your heart, if anything. "Love thy Neighbor"
But if that involves killing someone for his welfare check, then you are not really doing what's right by your heart. Or maybe you are, doing what's right by your cold-hearted heart.
There are also studies that show reading the Bible makes you smarter and have a better work ethic (which makes sense because you're reading something long and complicated)
Plus when you read how this study was done, it doesn't make much sense
[editline]31st October 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=Miskav;33054056]Fair enough, I suppose it's just odd for me to include the other 90% because those people aren't able to make a decent decision on the matter and believe out of fear or ignorance, not through a weighed decision.[/QUOTE]
Wow way to judge 90% of the world's population by saying they're not making a "decent decision"
How arrogant can you get
[QUOTE=Meller Yeller;33054376][B]There are also studies that show reading the Bible makes you smarter and have a better work ethic (which makes sense because you're reading something long and complicated)[/B]
[I]Plus when you read how this study was done, it doesn't make much sense[/I]
[editline]31st October 2011[/editline]
Wow way to judge 90% of the world's population by saying they're not making a "decent decision"
How arrogant can you get[/QUOTE]
[B]Whoa there cowboy, you can't support this bullshit[/B][I] if you're going to just reject the study this thread poses.[/I]
[QUOTE=Miskav;33054056]Fair enough, I suppose it's just odd for me to include the other 90% because those people aren't able to make a decent decision on the matter and believe out of fear or ignorance, not through a weighed decision.[/QUOTE]
No yeah fuck theists
They're all ignorant and shouldn't be counted as human beings
[QUOTE=Sickle;33054424][B]Whoa there cowboy, you can't support this bullshit[/B][I] if you're going to just reject the study this thread poses.[/I][/QUOTE]
I'm not rejecting this study, I'm just saying that this study doesn't really have much to it to trust
And it's not bullshit. Even athiests will read the Bible because just for educational purposes.
I like how nobody ever gets the point of religion in these threads.
[QUOTE=Zillamaster55;33054110]If we go socialist, I don't have to work, everyone else can pay for my healthcare and welfare.[/QUOTE]
What you just said is not only retarded, but also completely unrelated to the thread.
[QUOTE=Marbalo;33054496]90% of the world believing in a God is preposterous.[/QUOTE]
"Hmm, everyone in my sheltered life and social circle(read: facepunch) doesn't believe in God! THE ENTIRE WORLD MUST SHARE MY BELIEFS, CAUSE THAT'S HOW AWESOME I AM!"
[QUOTE=Meller Yeller;33054376]There are also studies that show reading the Bible makes you smarter and have a better work ethic (which makes sense because you're reading something long and complicated)
Plus when you read how this study was done, it doesn't make much sense
[editline]31st October 2011[/editline]
Wow way to judge 90% of the world's population by saying they're not making a "decent decision"
How arrogant can you get[/QUOTE]
"Makes you smarter" no, thats impossibly
you [I]CANNOT fix stupid[/I]. In fact, studies show for some people it makes then at least 60% dumber. They were already under average to boot, anyways!
[sp]That was sarcasm...[/sp]
[QUOTE=J!NX;33054577]"Makes you smarter" no, thats impossibly
you [I]CANNOT fix stupid[/I]. In fact, studies show for some people it makes then at least 60% dumber.[/QUOTE]
"LOL ARE YOU STOOPID? REEDING A BOOK CANT MAEK U SMERTER BUT IT CAME MAEK U DUMMER1!1"
/logic
[QUOTE=Marbalo;33054496]90% of the world believing in a God is preposterous.[/QUOTE]
"God or Higher Power", which when taken into account seems pretty accurate to me. Most people I know do believe in something, they're just not formally religious. Many hate organised religion (whilst maintaining belief in 'something') and a much smaller handful or full on Atheists.
[QUOTE=J!NX;33054577]"Makes you smarter" no, thats impossibly
you [I]CANNOT fix stupid[/I]. In fact, studies show for some people it makes then at least 60% dumber.[/QUOTE]
Sorry, but quoting Ron White isn't going to make you look any smarter.
derpity-
Seriously, why are there so many fucktarded studies popping up in ITN today? If it's not a study showing that halloween candy has calories, it's a study with no reputable name behind it making a completely baseless claim that makes NO sense in scientific terms.
[QUOTE=Paramud;33054602]Sorry, but quoting Ron White isn't going to make you look any smarter.[/QUOTE]
Forgot where that was from actually.
[QUOTE=Strongbad;33054587]"LOL ARE YOU STOOPID? REEDING A BOOK CANT MAEK U SMERTER BUT IT CAME MAEK U DUMMER1!1"
/logic[/QUOTE]
Wow, take a joke.
I've seen a few perfectly fine people start reading the bible and getting too serious with it. The religious are fine, but for some people it doesn't help.
[editline]31st October 2011[/editline]
and of course it can make you a little smarter... its a book.
[QUOTE=Strongbad;33054628]Seriously, why are there so many fucktarded studies popping up in ITN today? If it's not a study showing that halloween candy has calories, it's a study with no reputable name behind it making a completely baseless claim that makes NO sense in scientific terms.[/QUOTE]
DAILY MAIL: Can Halloween candy give you cancer? New study shows that... we are fuck heads.
I'd like to read the Qu'ran.
There must be a thing or two to learn about love, and stuff. But some of the sadistic stuff? No thanks.
[QUOTE=Bat-shit;33054662]I'd like to read the Qu'ran.
There must be a thing or two for every one of us to learn.[/QUOTE]
I have a bible around here somewhere that I want to read.
What about the Qu'ran?
[QUOTE=Bat-shit;33054681]What about the Qu'ran?[/QUOTE]
Don't have one, could use one. Both would help me argue against Christians that take everything way too far and just shit on everything, only with words. I hate when people do that.
Most Christians are awesome, then there's the "I'm right your wrong!!!" ones.
Studies also show that 75% of all statistics are made up and that people will believe anything if there is a statistic there to support it.
There was also a study that suggested that WiFi hurts people, and that plastic water bottles give you cancer, and that spiders crawl into your mouth when you sleep.
[QUOTE=S31-Syntax;33054736]and that spiders crawl into your mouth when you sleep.[/QUOTE]
They might.
[QUOTE=Meller Yeller;33054376]There are also studies that show reading the Bible makes you smarter and have a better work ethic (which makes sense because you're reading something long and complicated)[/QUOTE]
For one, how many Christians do you do who have actually read the Bible in it's entirety? Secondly, it's an absurd point to make as any atheist or agnostic could easily spend the same amount of time reading a quality piece of literature of the same or greater difficulty.
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.
